Thank you for your continued prayers as I prepare to head back into ministry among the Fulani of Burkina Faso. Things seem to be happening very quickly, and my time back in Burkina was excellent. I now have a path for returning to ministry there, and hope to write to you again very soon with more details.

MY VISIT TO BURKINA FASO
I confess that, while I was excited to return to Burkina after two years away, I was also a little apprehensive of how I would find it – would it be a struggle to fit back in? Would the emotions associated with being run down when I left at the end of 2003 come back? And would I have forgotten all my Fulfulde? Well, in fact it was very easy to fit back in, and simply a joy to be there again. And within a day of arriving, I was preaching again in Fulfulde, and happily coping much better than expected. For all this I am thankful to the Lord.

What God seemed to be saying about this trip was that it was to be like Nehemiah when he first returned to Jerusalem – a time of not saying much, but going out and seeing the state of things, and trying to understand how things were (Neh 2:11-16). I travelled a lot – to Djibo, Boukouma, Dori, Ouagadougou, and of course Gorom-Gorom and the surrounding villages. I was very blessed to spend time with many friends – Fulani Christians and Muslims, national pastors, and ex-pat missionaries. My first visitors arrived for breakfast at 7am, only 6 hours after I’d actually arrived at the airport! So I looked and listened a lot.

So, what came out of this time?

• The Fulani Church in Burkina Faso. When working in an environment like the north of Burkina, it is difficult to see what progress is being made. Often, week-by-week, it feels like things aren’t changing much. But it was evident to me after two years away that the Fulani church in Burkina, small and fragile though it still is, is definitely more mature and strong than when I left. Fulani Christians and churches are stronger, and some are beginning to be more active in ministry.
• National Pastors. National pastors too of other people groups, are increasingly motivated to reach the Fulani. Although there are issues of cultural and racial differences between some of these groups, there are also challenges for “rich, white” missionaries working in such an area. The national pastors and Christians are in many ways closer culturally than we are, and will still be there after we leave. Yet their need for training in cross-cultural issues, and for resources for such a ministry are areas where we can work together.
• Missionaries. All this is reflected in the missionaries’ focus moving more towards training the Fulani for ministry. This must be the long-term goal. The ministry will only last if it is built on Fulani themselves. While there is still definitely a need for pioneer cross-cultural missionary work and discipleship among the Fulani, the missionary role seems increasingly to be in discipling, training, and facilitating the Fulani for the work of the kingdom.

All these things are greatly encouraging and give me much food for prayer as I think about my own future role.

HIGHS AND LOWS
Along the way, there were also many emotional highs and lows, and laughter and tears, as I spent time with people:
• The home of "Yusufi", where we relaxed with him and his wives on the sand dune outside Gorom-Gorom, sharing Christ with his neighbours, and hearing him speak of his own desire to be better equipped to serve God.
• The death of Muusa, another Fulani Christian, just a few days before I arrived, leaving a wife and eight children without a husband and father. More here.
• The faith of "B" now blossoming. She is now baptised, and singing in the church choir.
• The struggles and victories of Seydou and Monique. Precious moments staying with them as they have taken their first steps in serving the Lord.
• The journey with Steve. He stuck with me the whole way. It was so good to spend time with him again, witnessing, laughing, talking, praying, sharing vision for the radio station, for evangelism, for our lives…
• The incontinent goat, the two-legged pig, the feast of white man’s ears, the policeman who took my motorbike, the discovery of bird flu, and many other stories that you have no doubt read on my website.

PLEASE PRAY

* Your kingdom come. Please continue to ask for an outpouring of the grace and Spirit of Christ among the Fulani of Burkina Faso. Pray also for comfort for Moussa’s family, and for protection from bird flu in Burkina.
* Your will be done. I am in discussion now with my leaders about the path forward that will take me back into ministry among the Fulani of Burkina Faso. Please pray for us as we work things out with God. I will write and let you know as things develop.

Many thanks
Keith